Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1887-03-26
Consider Carefully
The Straits that Miles City Prop
erty Holders are Rapidly
Drawing Nigh
Insurance Companies Threaten
to Cancel all Risks Carried
on Frame Business Houses
Unless Adequate Fire Protection
is Assured-A Practical Mans
Practical Suggestion.

(Communicated.J
PRACTICAL SUGGESTION
Which should be Carefully Considered and
Quickly Carried Into Eject.
Miles City, March "a, 1887.
Editor YELLOWSTONE JOURNAL:
Dear SRA letter just received from
an Insurance company concludes:
Miles City is now in the matter of
losses our banner agency, fact which
will give neither Of US any pleasure to
contemplate" l have several letters
Of about the same tenor, some putting
the matter in q stronger light, and
other Insurance agents In this city
have similar epistles, some Of which
go 80 far as to intimate that unless
come sort of fire protection 10 provided
this city will soon be without insur-
ance companies to carry on the frame
ranges In our business portion. 1t is
o serious matter to contemplate for
many OF our business men, one of dol
lars and cents, rs well as reputation
for our city. While we have q very
progressive city in the way of electric
lights, telephones, and other modern
improvements, buildings which vie In
beauty of architecture with the size
and assortment of stocks carried by
our merchants, we have no fire pro-
lection. Some time since you pre-
sented in your columns an able article
on this subject, but there did not ap-
pear to be any marked response to
your urgent appeal for that sort OF i'm
pIovement. l wish to second you In
your appeal to the property holders
and Others having an interest in the
prosperity of this city, In which ap-
peal am confident We are ably sup.
ported by such gentlemen rs have
well considered the matter and who
are in position to know that It Is, or
will be, one OF the essentials Ct public
safety and prosperity; and propose a
plan, which, in NV opinion, with per-
baps some notifications, Is feasible.
Major Macqueen yesterday purchased
q hand fire engine at Fort keogh.
which IL not o! the latest pattern, is
certainly better than none. He pro-
poses to turn this engine over to the
city fire company, If organized, which
will furnish the necessary hose. The
engine carries two and q half inch
hose, which will, II properly taken
care of, last for years. IL 10 OF the
usual size. and would answer all pur.
poses for any engine which the incor.
porsted city may supply hereafter. We
Would need from 800 TO 500 feet OF
such hose, which will cost about 81
per foot for good canvass hose. The
necessary hose carriage will cost
about $3.50 or less.
1t will be argued that We have no
water supply; admitting that our sup.
ply Is limited, we have q number OF
tanks connected with artesian wells,
holding about $50 barrels each, quite .
number of open wells In the residence
portion with capacity Of about Is to 70
barrels each. all within easy reach and
well distributed; about is barrels OF
water from u well, supplemented by
that never failing Fox's water wagon,
woild, with proper appliances, have
been sufficient ~ extinguish any OF the
late fires. 1 am satisfied that when the
engine and hose are supplied, enter.
prising property owners will increase
the water supply toa considerable ex
tent. Now l would propose TO accepI
Major Macqueen's offer, let the youns
able bodied men, to the number %
about fifty or more, organize stocl
company, supply the requisite capita
by subscription, q ball, concert o
theatrical performance. Drill, ge
into working order and infLse some in
terest IN the direction which has 3,
long been dormant in our community
Incorporation Is now admitted to b,
an assured fact in the near future
most everybody admits that the cit.
Is large aud wealthy enough to sup
port municipal government, and tina
incorporation Is the only remedy for al
the evils lately complained OF. WheI
the city IL incorporated the proposes
fire company can sell or donate TO tn
city what apparatus and appliances
has acquired, which will all be servic
able aud suitable for future use. Tn
expense connected with the organi
zation proposed will be 80 trifiiDg 4
individuals ms to be hardly felt by any
one, and will be factor In the asset
of the incorporated city, and rs suci
common property.
Mr.. Courtenay assured mejthis eve
ming that he will literally donate to
wards the organization Of the propos
ed enterprise, and other gentlemen
have sigDified their Willingness q
help the matter financially, and fo'
the phi hysical support there eau oe ,,, y.
doubt that there are more willing
, hands than are necessary, in fact sue
cess is inevitable if the citizens can De
aroused from their present lethargy 10
q matter which IL Of paramount inter
est to a growing western community
Major Macqueen's generosity cannon
be too highly appreciated and ! say
let us have a fire company by oil
means, resurrect and re6t the old tim.
honored hook aud ladder truck. and
at least make . showing Of fire pro
lection. Yours truly,
CHAs. w. SEYDE.